How does Welsh university research advance the world around us?

Welsh university research has a transformational impact across all levels of society. The most recent ‘Research Excellence Framework’ (REF) results, which assesses the quality of university research, showed that Welsh universities have the highest percentage of ‘world leading’ research in terms of its impact of any part of the UK, with almost half of it considered to be having a transformational effect on society and the economy.

-Transformed school meals, reaching more than 500,000 children and increasing the number of primary school children eating ‘five a day’, by showing how the school food chain could be reformed through a better procurement system.

You can find out more by exploring the range of research case studies which demonstrate the depth and breadth of the work being carried out by our universities, the significant impact that this is having internationally and commercially, and the talented people who are involved.

What makes all of this possible?

Underpinning all research at Welsh Universities is Quality Research (QR) funding – one part of the ‘dual-funding’ system that makes all of this amazing research possible.

QR is ‘core’ funding from Welsh Government and provides the foundations on which the second element of the ‘dual-funding’ system – competitive funding – relies. This includes match funding in bids for Research Councils, charities or (at present) European Union funding. However, the benefits of QR go beyond attracting and leveraging competitive research funding into Welsh universities. QR also provides a stable source of funding that enables long-term strategic development of research, attracting and retaining the best researchers from across the world and providing opportunities to resource new and emerging areas of research.

The Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014 results are used as the basis for the allocation of QR funding to universities. The most recent ‘Research Excellence Framework’ results, which assesses the quality of university research, showed that Welsh universities have made massive improvements in the impact of their research. Our infographic gives an overview of how Welsh university research is having a transformational impact across all levels of society.